‘Very happy’: £25m ace reacts after missing out on Leeds or West Brom move

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Espanyol striker Raul de Tomas insists he’s “very happy” at the recently relegated club after missing out on a potential move to Leeds United or West Brom, speaking to Sport.

If reports are to be believed, it was the finances involved in a potential deal that had the Whites and Baggies running for the hills when they came calling for a man known in Spain as ‘RDT’.

Sport Finding claims Espanyol were refusing to sell their record signing for a penny less than £25 million.

His £100,000-a-week wages didn’t help matters either – although they have now dropped to ‘just’ £40,000 after the Catalan club were relegated from La Liga for the first time since 1993.

But, at least publicly, De Tomas is putting on a happy face.

“The message is clear – I am very happy here. I have always said it. At no time have I said I wanted to go,” says the former Benfica and Real Madrid forward, who scored 24 goals in his most recent Segunda season in 2017/18.

“I’m at Espanyol and I’m going to give my all. The only thing I’m going to do is score goals, help the team and whatever has to come will come.”

AS claims West Brom made an approach for De Tomas in the final week of the European transfer market, although the younger, quicker and cheaper Karlan Grant probably represents better value for money. Grant also brings with him a proven track record in the Premier League, even if the sample size is rather small.

Leeds were also linked via the same publication in July.